A few years ago, I took an online quiz that gave you your “true age” based on your favorite activities, personality traits, and reactions to different hypotetical situations. Your “true age” would reveal not only your perceived maturity level, but also the age range that represents your sense of self the most.

I had believed that I would score in the sub-10 year old range, because let’s face it – I can be pretty immature at times.

However, I was shocked to see that I had scored in the 30-35 range.

(Meanwhile, J scored in the 4-7 range. Figures.)

I pondered the results. I considered those who look back to their college years or their early twenties with fond longing. “Those were the best years of my life,” they say.

It was then that I realized that I am different. I am looking forward to my thirties, when I will have gained enough experience to be a strong, confident, and relatively happy person. When I will (hopefully) be more financially stable than ever before. When I will (hopefully) have had a child or two, entering a new stage in my life.

This Sunday, I will be turning twenty-eight years old. How do I feel about it? Pretty damn good.

I have found that as I age, I have become more content and comfortable with myself.

Sure, I am aware that I am no longer in my prime years. I have not been able to fit into my skinny jeans in years. I can no longer party all night without suffering the consequences the next day. My energy level is no where as high as it was back in my teenage and college years. I look back at pictures of myself in my early twenties and think, “Damn, I looked pretty good back then.”

However, I am happier and more comfortable with my body now than at my thinnest 10 years ago, when I weighed about 10 lbs less. (It also doesn’t hurt to have a husband who loves your curves and tells you how sexy you are every day.)

I am able to talk confidently to strangers and even sell myself when needed. I make friends easier and faster than ever. I no longer cower in crowds, or subject myself to alcohol as a means for social lubrication.

Sure there are bad days, but that’s life. No matter how tired I am at the end of the day, no matter how crabby or sad I may be from a bad situation, I count my blessings before going to sleep every night and I am thankful.

Twenty-seven was a big year for me. I became a home owner. I re-kindled my relationship with God. I married my best friend. My father became sick, which became a blessing in disguise, for it has led him to also rekindle his relationship with God. I became a Youth Group teacher at my church, and a small group co-leader for the adult English ministry. I started a new job. And just recently, I began investing my time and efforts in a project that is nothing but full of potential.

I look forward to getting older with sheer determination and optimism. Because I truly believe that the best years are yet to come.

I really relate to this post. I’ve also wondered why people would ever refer to their high school years or college years as the best of their life. When I hear that, I cringe and think "Really? That’s as good as it gets?" I would like to think that the best years of my life are still ahead of me. That my 30s (productive, well-compensated, on right career track) will be significantly better than my 20s (poor, perpetual student, stuck in endless thesis project). That my 40s will be even better than my 30s. And that my 50s will be even better than my 40s! I just look at President Elect Obama and SOS-to-be Clinton. They’re in their 40s and 50s, seem more polished than ever and poised to do great things.

Funny, I recently saw a headline that asked "How old do you feel?", and my knee-jerk response was "28". (I’m actually 37.) Shared the headline with hubby (who’s 34), and his knee-jerk response was "28"…. The 30s really ARE great for all the reasons you mention, but I think we feel like "real" 30-somethings should be more grown-up!

I like books, gadgets, spicy food, and art. I dislike shopping, hot weather, and the laws of entropy. Although I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, I still have a love for handbags and makeup... and I am always teetering on high heels. To learn more about me, visit the "About" page.